Natasha

My cellphone chimed again but I didn’t look at it. I was sure it was a text from Apollo and I was damn sure that it was dirty. How could I read that in front of Nicole? And just as I thought it would be, two more texts came after which my phone started ringing.

“Who is that?” Nicole asked me as she winked and removed her arms around my waist.

“Must be aunt Paula,” I lied. “She is very worried about me.”

“Then pick up her phone!” Nicole said. “Aren't you being rude?” She jabbed a finger in my chest and then left. I pursed my lips tight. And I didn’t pick up the phone. I needed space. Space rocket. I wanted to sit in it and go to Mars or maybe Saturn or perhaps a different galaxy. Determined not to read his texts or pick up his phone, I sat down at the table and started reading the menu.

Gabe’s bakery was a cute little place. There were several tables on the inside and a few under the alfresco on the outside. Harry Styles, Falling, played in the background. I chose to sit by the tin